Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has declared an all-out war on the root causes of insecurity in the state, targeting fake pastors and fraudulent native doctors whom he accuses of luring the youth into crime with false promises of wealth and protection. According to Soludo, his administration is no longer just chasing criminals but dismantling the foundations that breed them.
The governor made these remarks while receiving a Good Governance Award from the management of Vanguard Media Limited at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia. He described his leadership as a divine calling and vowed to leave Anambra State better than he met it.
Soludo recalled how seven local government areas in Anambra South were under the grip of non-state actors when he assumed office nearly three years ago. Though security challenges persist, his administration’s aggressive approach is yielding results.
One of his administration’s major initiatives is the ‘Udo ga achi’ security outfit, with its Agunechemba operational arm. Following the passage of the Homeland Security Law, the state empowered Agunechemba operatives with logistics, vehicles, and intelligence tools to hunt down individuals manipulating the youth into crime.
“We are no longer just fighting criminals on the surface; we are going after those creating them,” Soludo stated. “Some native doctors and fake pastors have brainwashed our youth with promises of quick riches through diabolic means. We are unmasking and uprooting them.”
Soludo lashed out at self-proclaimed spiritual leaders who exploit the vulnerable with fraudulent get-rich-quick schemes and deceptive healing practices.
> “There is a new religion that preaches a crown without a cross. They tell people to bring money, promising divine wealth, yet they depend on tithes and offerings to survive. Some pastors sell anointing oil and handkerchiefs as miracle solutions but rush abroad for medical treatment when sick.”
> “One arrested native doctor claims to make people rich, yet his own son works as a hotel waiter in Imo State. If their charms worked, why aren’t their families wealthy? Why can’t they make all Anambra people millionaires?”
Soludo also revealed a shocking trend where native doctors perform rituals for drug traffickers, assuring them of invisibility at airport security. Many of these young men end up languishing in foreign prisons after being caught.
> “Some are now into ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ (internet fraud), and when that fails, they resort to kidnapping—all because they were promised effortless wealth.”
Soludo made it clear that security operatives are relentlessly pursuing these fraudulent figures.
“Many of them are either in detention or on the run. Our people are now waking up, realizing they’ve been scammed for years.”
He also condemned ritualists polluting water bodies in the name of spirituality.
> “People go to rivers to perform sacrifices, dumping all sorts of materials, yet others fetch the same water for drinking. This must stop! Traditional religion is different from this criminal enterprise.”
Despite these challenges, Soludo highlighted his administration’s transformational achievements across multiple sectors:
Healthcare:
Anambra won $1.2 million in cash prizes as the best primary healthcare performer in Nigeria.
326 electoral wards now have fully staffed primary healthcare centers.
1,000+ medical personnel employed, ending the era of doctor shortages.
Five new General Hospitals built, including one in Fegge, Onitsha South, which never had one before.
Largest trauma center in Nigeria under construction at Amaku Teaching Hospital.
82,882 deliveries recorded under the state’s free antenatal and delivery program, with over 400 successful C-sections.
Education:
Free education from nursery to secondary school—parents only need to send their children to school.
5,000 teachers recruited based on merit, leading to higher school enrollment.
Anambra now has the lowest out-of-school rate in Nigeria (below 0.5%, compared to the national average of 30%).
Entrepreneurship & Economic Growth:
The One Youth, Two Skills initiative, adopted by the federal government, is training thousands in entrepreneurship.
5,000 beneficiaries of the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme are now training others.
Soludo is on track to create 1,000 millionaires annually, with 8,300 more youths to be empowered this year.
Infrastructure & Technology:
750 km of roads under construction, 400+ km completed to the highest quality standards.
Transformation of Okpoko, South-East’s largest slum, with 18 km of roads, streetlights, pipe-borne water, and a new General Hospital.
600 km of fiber-optic cables being laid to make Anambra a digital hub.
“You Haven’t Seen Anything Yet” – Soludo
Soludo reaffirmed his vision for Anambra, promising that his foundation will shape the state’s future.
> “Every penny we spend is accounted for. If we had the same resources as past administrations, we’d already be halfway to Dubai-Taiwan development standards.”
> “This is just the beginning. The world will soon see what Anambra is truly capable of.”
With a relentless crackdown on crime, unprecedented investments in human capital, and a clear vision for the future, Soludo is not just leading Anambra—he is reinventing it.
PIONEER NEWS 